Life in Ueda

Connecting to the Internet is easy for some of us here—but not all. I am one of the “not all.” For all of the electronic gadgets that Japan creates, this place isn’t as wired as you might expect. Unable to find an Internet café, I've sneaked into a computer training place thanks to Bill Retti, an ex-pat Canadian friend of the Sister Cities program who has lived in Japan for many years.

Japan is everything you’d hope for your kids to experienceIn a nutshell, this trip is everything you’d hope for your kids to experience. Some get to sleep on beds, most sleep on the floor on futons. Many haven't used a fork or knife since we left Tokyo. And they dive into meals we may not be accustomed to—but everything tastes great.

I had horsemeat for dinner last night... Honest. My hosts served a platter of sliced meat along with much sushi. Then, after I enjoyed a few mouthfuls of the meat, they asked me to guess what it was.

Sorry, Trigger, better you than me. I didn’t rise to the top of the food chain for nothing…

The first day in UedaWe were greeted warmly by a huge contingent of local citizenry and officials. After the official greeting in which we were paired up with our families, we headed to a parade.

Actually, we became part of the parade. And our participation was documented in the local news. Interestingly, the parade was up one side of the street and down the other... There were more participants, it seemed, than there were cheering throngs. It surely was fun!

To clarify, the parade wasn't for us. It was an annual event for the region. Still, great timing, no?!

The past few days

This morning we attended junior high school. The Japanese school kids applauded as we entered their gymnasium. We were without our shoes, in sandaled feet. For those of us who wear more than a size eight or so our heels hung over the backs of the sandals.

After a "get-to-know" event, it was “us vs them” in beachball volleyball. Then they challenged us to a basketball game against the junior high team.

Well-coached and in much better condition, our young opponents scored the first four baskets. But, as has been said, "You can't coach height." So with 6'5" CJ and 6'4" Nicholas under the boards, we saved American face. Aric, Andrew, and Lisa rounded out the back court, and we won by 3 points.

Yesterday we went to the Japan Sea, driving through the mountains to get there. One fun event was the watermelon splitting (watermelons are about US$20). That’s “splitting,” not “spitting.” As with opening a pinata, we were blindfolded and spun around. Armed with a bamboo stick, we stumbled to open the melon with the stick. Aric finally prevailed, so we enjoyed the fruits of mostly his labor.

Two days ago (are you keeping track?) we met with Ueda’s mayor, and we visited Ueda Castle. Historically important to the area, the Sanada clan defended it successfully twice against the Tokugawa gang—who ultimately set up shop running Japan in another neighborhood far, far away...

The castle is still in fine repair because the Japanese use the same construction methods and tools as the original builders hundreds of years ago whenever the castle needs refurbishing. And for more than 400 or 500 years, they've done that a few times—without a Lowe's or Home Depot to rely on.

It’s all amazingly goodMore than two days ago, well, things get blurry.

Consider the stress of being a guest in someone's home. Then consider the stress of being a guest in the home of someone you don't know. Then consider the stress of being a guest in a home where you not only don't know the person, but aren't certain of the culture and can't speak the language...

That's what we're doing—and the kids are holding up better than the chaperones. And generally they're getting things they have never done before. My son and CJ, for example, caught fish from the river with their bare hands. I can't even catch fish using a credit card at Costco. Allison's host family took her shopping and she had to beg them to stop buying things for her...

The hospitality here is almost so friendly it hurts, as Allison, Nicholas, and CJ can attest to.

My host family takes me to the hot baths—men and women are segregated—every night. What a way to wind down. We don’t leave the house in the morning without lunches and our water bottles topped off with ice water. It almost makes us want to shout, “Stop being so nice!”